Filter holder for smokers



April 1967 J.'M. BARNETT FILTER HOLDER FOR SMOKERS Filed Aug. 21, 1964 IN VENTOR. Mnwe fie zrr ATTOZA/EY Patented Apr. 4, 1967 3 Claims. (c1. 131-187) The present invention relates to filter holders for use with cigarettes and cigars whereby toxic and noxious components of cigarette or cigar smoke are substantially eliminated thereby protecting the smoker, especially the smoker who inhales cigarette smoke. More particularly, the invention resides in a specially designed filter holder of novel construction and having numerous advantages over previously known filters and filter holders.

In general, the action of the new filter holder is based upon the principle of reducing the temperature of the smoke, causing it to follow labyrinthine paths during which the smoke is caused to deposit undesirable constituents and thereafter the smoke passes through an elongated body portion containing or filled with a filtering material or system, so that whenit reaches the smokers mouth, it is in a comparatively harmless and non-injurious condition with tars, nicotine and the like almost completely absent, without, however, losing the taste and fragrance of the smoke since at least in part it is caused to pass through the compressed end of the cigarette which is adapted to be inserted in one end of the holder.

' FIGURE 1 is an external view partly in section of a filter holder in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal medial section taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3a and 3b are fragmentary sectional views of modified forms .of socket construction;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURES 5 to 9a are fragmentary section-a1 views of modified forms of mouthpiece ends.

Referringfirst to FIGURES 1 to 4, the new filter holder of the present invention comprises a long and relatively slender body portion 10, the forward end 11 of which is substantially cylindrical terminating in a flat annular edge surface 12 and which then tapers toward the mouthpiece end 13 while at the same time changing from cylindrical to oval cross section, as will be seen from FIG- URES 2 and 4, whereat the wall is thickened as at 14 and is provided with a cross bar 15 which, as will be seen from FIGURE 4, is relatively narrow or thin so that it only partially obstructs the mouthpiece opening 16 for a purpose hereinafter described but which essentially constitutes a barrier for the filtering material 17 in body portion 10 and which may take many different specific forms, such as granules, fibers, filaments, or even liquids or semi-liquids or any desired combination thereof and examples of which filtering materials are granules of silica gel, activated carbon, ion exchange resins, cellulose, paper, fibrous material such as cotton, wool and bristles, artificial materials such as glass wool, cellulose acetate and other cellulosic fibers, natural and artificial spongy materials such as reeds, sponges, polyurethane, polystyrene, etc., or any of a wide variety of filtering materials so long as they conform to the cavity of the filter holder and form tortuous or labyrinthine paths along and through the filtering material without escape paths which do not go through the filtering material or end in cul-de-sacs. The filter can also include a liquid adequately held in a vehicle such as aqueous solutions, alcoholic solutions,

acidic solutions, neutral solutions, alkaline solutions, solutions of ferric chloride, picric acid, citric acid, tannic acid, sodium hydroxide, etc., or any desired combination thereof capable of absorbing, adsorbing or retaining undesirable components of cigarette and cigar smoke.

Fitted into the cylindrical end of tubular body portion 10 is a main socket 18 of metal, Bakelite, etc., having an annular shoulder 19 abutting edge surface 12 and projecting forwardly to a rounded or otherwise formed guide curve 20 to aid the insertion of an end of a cigarette or cigar. Somewhat rearwardly of shoulder 19, there is a funnel-shaped diametrally narrowed portion 21 leading to a compaction chamber or space 22 which is, for example, a little smaller than a cigarette end so as to compress the same when it is inserted, it being noted that chamber 22 is smaller in diameter than the cavity 23 and tapers gradually in a rearward direction toward the spherical cap cavity 24 which communicates with axial opening 25 in cylindrical projection 26 over which rear socket 27 with closed base 28 is disposed in such manner as to provide a condensation chamber 29 and conduits 30 in the wall of the rear socket. Due to the dimensions and configurations of the parts, there is formed a chamber 31 communicating with the interior of body portion 10 via annular canal 32, groove 33 and rearwardly tapering chamber 31'.

It is to be understood that while a preferred form of main socket 18 and rear socket 27 have been illustrated and described, both of these elements may be varied as to their structural detail and configuration. The main socket 18 may, for example, be provided with a rounded or squared bead at its forward edge or it may be provided with body recesses or projections on its outer wall for cooperation with the cylindrical end of the tubular body portion to prevent rotation or undesired relative displacement and also the forward edge of said socket may be beveled, chamfered or provided with a wall which thickens somewhat in a rearward direction. Similarly, the rear socket 27 may take specifically different shapes, such as cylindrical or frustoconical and may be provided with grooves, slots or channels so as to provide or improve communication between'the main socket cavity and the interior of the tubular body portion.

In FIGURE 5 there is shown a modified form of mouthpiece end 13a of tubular body portion 10 wherein the dike is made up of concentric radial fins 34, together with an intermediate fin 35, which is located somewhat forwardly of fins 34 and in stag ered relationship thereto so as to provide a suitable retaining element or barrier for the filtering material while still allowing adequate access of cigar or cigarette smoke tothe aperture 16 in the mouthpiece. FIGURE 6 shows a further variation of the arrangement of FIGURE 5 wherein the mouthpiece 13b is provided with a plurality of higher or longer spaced fins 36 and lower or shorter spaced fins 37, thereby providing somewhat more surface area for confining the filtering material and for directing the travel of smoke through the opening 16 in the mouthpiece. In FIGURE 7, the mouthpiece is provided with a partition 38 which divides the opening 16 into two smaller openings while at the same time providing adequate confining of the filtering material in the tubular body portion. FIGURE 8 represents a further modification wherein the mouthpiece 13d has its opening 16 communicating with stepped diametral reductions 39 and 40 in the cavity of the tubular body portion. This construction has the advantage that it provides unusually good barrier action for the filtering material, especially when it is in granular form and also protects the opening 16 better against being blocked by any of the filtering granules. Even though it is understood that when filtering granules are used in any of the forms of the invention, they are larger than the openings to which they have access so that they do not pass out of said openings accidentally, at the same time, the configuration of the parts bounding the filtering material at each end is such that the filtering material may be somewhat compacted without compressing it so much as to increase induly resistance to the passage of smoke therethrough or may be loose randomly arranged granules. It will also be understood that the mouthpiece end of the holder can be further varied as to detail and particularly by having the outlet opening to the smokers mouth of cruciform shape by a suitable fin shape.

As noted above, the socket construction is susceptible of variation and modifications thereof are illustrated by Way of example in FIGURES 3a and 3b. In FIGURE 3a, the main socket 18a has a squared head or lip 20a for cooperation with edge surface 12 and has a wall which gradually thickens in a rearward direction but which is smooth and uninterrupted on its inner surface to form a single chamber 22a without the plurality of chambers of FIGURE 3. It also has the hollow rearward projection 26:: as in FIGURE 3 but the opening 2541 leads directly to the bottom of chamber 22a. In FIGURE 3b, the main socket 18b has no hollow rearward projection and, instead, the rear socket 27b is of somewhat frustoconical shape with a closed end 28b but the forward portion is narrowed or pinched and projects through a hole in the bottom of the main socket and may have small lugs or a flange 27b to prevent disassembly. Since the plastic parts have some flexibility or yieldability there is no problem in assembling them. The rear socket wall has inclined apertures 27b" which afford communication between condensation chamber 2% and tapering chamber 31b and thence to the cavity of tubular body portion with its content of filtering granules.

In FIGURE 9, there is shown a preferred form of mouthpiece Be With a fin or partition 41 so shaped as to provide a cruciform opening 42 which holds back filtering granules well and gives a larger area for the passage of smoke.

A filter holder constructed in accordance with the present invention is simple and efiicient in use, can be readily assembled or disassembled whenever desired and is sufiiciently inexpensive that it could be discarded and yet is of such nature that it is capable of use over prolonged periods of time if desired, in which event the filtering material can be removed and changed or cleaned and the socket construction can be removed and cleaned. The tubular body portion itself can be replaced if desired or can be cleaned, although normally it does not become very soiled, even after considerable use. A filter holder in accordance with the present invention is characterized by great usefulness and versatility and has been found in use to give exceptionally good smoke filtration without rendering the smoke flat and tasteless. During use the smoke, as from a cigarette, is filtered, cooled, and given directional and velocity changes during its passage through the holder and thus the smoke does not have such a deleterious effect upon the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat and nose and, in particular, is less drying and less irritating and due to the lowered combustion temperature of the cigarette, harmful or noxious components are minimized, such as the formation of benzpyrene and its derivatives. The smoke taken into the smokers mouth is practically free from nicotine and tarry matter and, hence, smoking can be made pleasant and relatively harmless. It is further to be understood that the various component parts of the filter holder may be made of any suitable or available material and that the present invention not limited to the use of any specific material or to any specific type of filtering material.

What is claimed is:

1. A filter holder for smokers comprising a tubular body portion tapering from a cylindrical receiving end to a mouthpiece end, a main socket fitted in the receiving end and extending a short distance toward the mouthpiece end terminating in a closed end having a central aperture, and a rear socket having a flanged end projecting through the central aperture and having its flan e resting on the closed end of the main socket around the central aperture therein and said rear socket flaring therefrom with an outwardly inclined wall having inclined wall apertures therein and terminating in a closed end to form a condensation chamber within the rear socket, the size and shape of the rear socket forming a tapering chamber between the rear socket and the adjacent portion of the tubular body portion.

2. A filter holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece end construction for said holder adjacent to a solid terminal portion, having an aperture therethrough for the passage of smoke to a smokers mouth, merging into the adjacent tapered part of the tubular body portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial fins extending inwardly from the said tapered part of the tubular body portion just above the said terminal portion and terminating short of'one another to form a space therebetween in which is disposed an internal fin at a right angle to the radial fins and extending from a point above said terminal portion to a point beyond said radial fins.

3. In a filter holder for smokers having a tubular body portion tapering to a mouthpiece end, a mouthpiece end construction for said holder comprising a solid terminal portion, having an aperture therethrough for the passage of smoke to a smokers mouth, merging into the adjacent tapered part of the tubular body portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial fins extending inwardly from the said tapered part of the tubular body portion adjacent to the said terminal portion and terminating short of one another to form a space therebetween and a plurality of spaced fins rising from the terminal portion where it joins the tubular body portion and disposed perpendicularly to the radial fins but being shorter in length than the radial fins.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,744 2/1893 Roebel 131213 X 915,275 3/1909 Dean 131-229 X 959,649 5/1910 Thomson 131207 1,980,594 11/1934 Palmer. 2,169,310 8/1939 Wertheimer 131-227 X 2,230,872 2/ 1941 Turinsky 13 1227 X 2,357,239 8/ 1944 Turinsky 131 --227 2,956,569 10/1960 Adams 131229 X FOREIGN PATENTS 170,402 2/ 1952 Austria. 213,114 1/1961 Austria.

15,388 7/1904 Great Britain.

826,467 1/1960 Great Britain. 1,165,554 6/1958 France.

348,569 10/ 1960 Switzerland.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH S REICH, ALDRICH F. MEDBERY,

Examiners. 

1. A FILTER HOLDER FOR SMOKERS COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY PORTION TAPERING FROM A CYLINDRICAL RECEIVING END TO A MOUTHPIECE END, A MAIN SOCKET FITTED IN THE RECEIVING END AND EXTENDING A SHORT DISTANCE TOWARD THE MOUTHPIECE END TERMINATING IN A CLOSED END HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE, AND A REAR SOCKET HAVING A FLANGED END PROJECTING THROUGH THE CENTRAL APERTURE AND HAVING ITS FLANGE RESTING ON THE CLOSED END OF THE MAIN SOCKET AROUND THE CENTRAL APERTURE THEREIN AND SAID REAR SOCKET FLARING THEREFROM WITH AN OUTWARDLY INCLINED WALL HAVING INCLINED WALL APERTURES THEREIN AND TERMINATING IN A CLOSED END TO FORM A CONDENSATION CHAMBER WITHIN THE REAR SOCKET, THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE REAR SOCKET FORMING A TAPERING CHAMBER BETWEEN THE REAR SOCKET AND THE ADJACENT PORTION OF THE TUBULAR BODY PORTION. 